Pour vs. Pore

What is the difference?

Pour and pore are two words that cause English learners and native speakers confusion. They are an example of homophones. Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings, or spelling or both. It is important to learn the correct meanings and uses of homophones. It will allow you to use the words correctly in conversation and writing. With practice, you will be able to master both of these words.

Examples:

I poured wine for the whole table.
(I served wine to the whole table.)

Collocations

Collocations are commonly spoken phrases in English that occur naturally in speech. Becoming familiar with collocations will allow you to speak naturally with others and provide smooth dialogue in conversations.

Pore

As a noun, a pore refers to a very small opening in the skin. We have pores all over our bodies that produce sweat and other particles.

Examples:

Sweat is coming from all of my pores because it is so hot today.
(My skin is sweating a lot today because it is so hot today.)

My brother has skin problems because of his clogged pores.
(My brother has skin problems because of the clogged openings in his skin.)

I have oily pores on my face.
(My face produces a lot of oil.)

When pore is a verb, it means to study or look at something very intently.

Examples:

I pored over all of my textbooks while studying last night.
(I read all of my textbooks while studying last night.)

The class pored over the museum's exhibit.
(The class studied the museum's exhibit.)

We pored over yesterday's events to try to understand them.
(We thought very hard over yesterday's events to try to understand them.)

Pore Collocations

Pore over
Example: We pored over the books.

Pore through
Example:
The girl pored through all of the boxes.

More Tips

Pour and pore are two words that can be easily confused. It is hard to know when to use each one correctly. The most important thing in remembering how to use each of these words is to pay attention to the subject. Remember that if someone is "poring over a book," they must be studying. If you confuse "pore" with "pour" in that sentence, they are only getting the book wet!

You can also try to associate pore with the word "learn" by paying attention to the "e" in both words.

A Story to Practice Pour vs. Pore

"Can you pour me a cup of tea, please?" Cynthia says to Cathy. They are both very tired. They have been poring over their textbooks all night. Cynthia and Cathy are studying for a test.

They are both studying to be skin doctors. Skin doctors know everything about our pores and the things they produce. Their test is all about the skin and its pores. They have to pore over books all night about skin conditions related to pores.

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